It was an almost balmy day on November 30, 1864 when the Army of Tennessee crested Winstead Hill and saw almost two miles in the distance the Union Army of the Cumberland entrenching on the south side of the little town of Franklin, Tennessee.  The sun was setting as the Confederate Army formed up for the final grand assault of the American Civil War.

20,000 soldiers in gray formed a line of battle almost two miles wide. The bands began to play.

Some in the Confederate ranks remembered later that it was the first time they had heard the Army’s bands playing prior to an assault. It was an awesome and stunning site as they stepped off down Winstead Hill heading for the Union lines two miles in their front. They had no artillery with them, no cavalry support to speak of, no natural cover.

The fields of middle Tennessee were bare that late November evening. The flags, the sunlight glinting on gun metal and bayonets made them all a bright and shining weapon, a finely tuned instrument of death – and excellent targets for the Federal soldiers who awaited them behind their breastworks, loading their cannon, preparing for bloody work.

What happened next was a charge greater than “Pickett’s Charge” at Gettysburg; at Franklin they charged two miles across open ground with no cover and no artillery support. The Confederate attack at Franklin would be one of the greatest “almosts” of the entire war. Rarely if ever has more bravery, more courage, and more brutal combat taken place anywhere on the North American continent at any time. In five hours in the growing darkness of that late November day the bloody work continued until almost 10,000 were dead, wounded, or captured. When the Confederate commander, John Bell Hood rode the two miles from Winstead Hill to the Carter House and saw the horror of the battle, he sat on his horse and cried.

Franklin was one of the fiercest battles of the Civil War. Now, there is little left of the battlefield but the Carter House- the epicenter of the battle. As the Confederates broke through the main Union line centered at the Carter House where Union General on the field Jacob Cox of Ohio had his headquarters bitter and stunning hand-to-hand fighting erupted. Picture hundreds of men in blue and gray fighting at close quarters in the Carter yard using picks, axes, shovels, gun butts, knives, cannon rammers, anything they could find to kill each other. As the battle diminished and ended, one of the residents of the Carter house counted 58 casualties in the yard and on the porch.  The Carter House is the most battle scarred building on the continent. It is a shrine to American bravery, American courage, American sacrifice, steadfastness, and loss. This is a place that every American should visit.

Yesterday I had the privilege to attend the anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Franklin there on Columbia Pike and on the lawn of the Carter House. It was a very solemn and moving day. Cold, wet, and gray, my little one and I helped light candles, hundreds of them.

10,000 candles lined the Columbia Pike from the Union main line to almost the point where Colonel Emerson Opdyke’s men were resting before they launched their decisive countercharge that saved the battle for the Union.

I’ve been to many Civil War events, and many Civil War sites – this one was the finest, the most meaningful and impressive event I’ve seen. It is very important, especially now as we face an ongoing existential threat from Islamists across the world, that we remember our brave warriors and commemorate their courage and their sacrifices.

I went to Franklin on November 30 for inspiration and to remember, and to do honor to those who gave so much for what they believed was right; all Americans. I go to Franklin and the Carter House just for that purpose. One cannot help but be amazed and impressed and awestruck at the stunning bravery of the men in blue and gray who fought and died on that hallowed ground. We must never forget these brave men who fought for American values of freedom and justice – for what they believed was right.

We may also be called to make sacrifices and show the finer aspects of our character just as they were called to do. They did not waiver, they did not falter. Their example is there for us all to follow.

10,000 candles in front of the Carter House

10,000 candles in Franklin

10,000 candles as the evening approaches - The white sign at upper right is the site of the Union artillery battery that was overrun during the Confederate assault. Carter House is past the trees out of view up the road looking left.

CS reenactors approaching Carter House at dusk

CS reenactors marching on Columbia Pike to Carter House

Strong memories, strong images at Franklin, Tn.